1) MEMBERSHIP SURVEY REMINDER & FREE REGISTRATION WINNERS
We would like to thank all Active members who participated in the COA's Membership Survey which was circulated by e-mail earlier this month. If you completed the survey by December 2^nd, your name was entered to win free registration to the 2012 COA/CORS Annual Meeting being held in Ottawa from June 8-10. Congratulations are extended to the following five members whose names were selected by random draw: 

• Mark Burman (Montreal)
• Christopher Parfitt (Vernon)
• Malcolm E. Chang (Lethbridge)
• Gregory Buchko (Banff)
• Lee Ekert (Saskatoon) 

If you are an Active member of the COA and have not yet participated in the membership survey, please click here to get started.

2) YOUNG INVESTIGATORS INITIATIVE GRANT MENTORING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS - Deadline for submissions, January 15, 2012
The Bone and Joint Decade Canada and the United States Bone and Joint Initiative (USBJI) are dedicated to raising public awareness and to increasing research of musculoskeletal diseases. It is apparent that research in the musculoskeletal diseases performed by young investigators is not keeping pace with the increasing burden of these diseases. In response, they have developed a grant mentoring and career development program to provide early-career investigators an opportunity to work with experienced researchers in our field to assist them in securing funding and other survival skills required for pursuing an academic career. 

This grant mentoring and career development program is open to promising junior faculty, senior fellows or post-doctoral researchers nominated by their department or division chairs. It is also open to senior fellows or residents that are doing research and have a faculty appointment in place or confirmed. Basic and clinical investigators, without or with training awards (including K awards) are invited to apply. Investigators selected to take part in the program attend two workshops, 12-18 months apart, and work with faculty between workshops to develop their grant applications. The next workshop is scheduled to take place April 13-15, 2012. The unique aspect of this program is the opportunity for attendees to maintain a relationship with a mentor until their application is funded. To apply for this program the applicants must provide the following documentation. (For detailed instructions, please click here). 

Application

1. Letter of nomination from division or department chair.
2. Letter of support from institutional research mentor.
3. One or two page document with program title, specific aims and outline of a proposed grant application from the participant, making sure to note applicant's name.
4. Curriculum vitae of the applicant, to include complete contact details, and discipline specialization.
5. The application is due by January 15, 2012
6. The application should be addressed to Young Investigators Initiative and e-mailed to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (preferred), or mailed to:

U.S. Bone and Joint Decade/Initiative
6300 N. River Road, Rosemont, IL  60018.  

3) NEW PATIENT EDUCATION VIDEOS AVAILABLE
The Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation is now offering free patient education videos for orthopaedic surgeons. Designed in consultation with orthopaedic surgeons and patients, the three videos showcasing hip and knee surgeries are provided at no cost, and are intended to help surgeons educate current and potential patients - ideal for waiting rooms and clinics. 

Surgeons are invited to order the video series by contacting 1-800-461-3639 ext. 4 or e-mailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

4) CONFERENCES OF INTEREST
The 10^th Biennial Canadian Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Symposium will be held from April 20-21, 2012 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto. For further information, please visit: http://sites.cepdtoronto.ca/footankle/ or contact the Office of Continuing Education and Professional Development, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto Phone: 416 978-2719/1 888-512-8173, E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .